September 2006
Slacker
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Keith began working diligently for Mr. Everett, but he slowly allowed himself to take shortcuts.
He would fix the fence when he had better pliers with him. The pickup had not had an oil change in over a year, but he would get to that next fall when he had time to repair the squeaky brakes. He would put away his pile of tools when he had time to organize the shop.
Neighbors soon complained about Everett cattle wandering onto the road. When the farm mechanic inspected the pickup, he found the engine several quarts low on oil, and he had to replace the brake drums because they were so badly worn.
When Mr. Everett fired him, Keith asked, "Why? I haven't done anything!"
Developing diligence in little things often saves a lot of trouble down the line. Find ways to motivate yourself and do the best you can.
By Lauree Beth Stedje
Developing Diligent Discipline
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Diligence requires both physical and mental discipline. Apply yourself completely to whatever you are doing. Whether relaxing with your family or working on a new project, make a plan, and focus on the task at hand.
Unfinished tasks can create mental and physical clutter that makes your work less efficient. Gain a bigger perspective so that you can prioritize your projects.
Keep a time log, and evaluate how you spent your time. Identify the distractions that interrupt your real work, and look for ways to eliminate them. When you see needs, write them down along with any additional thoughts, and keep working.
If you lack an orderly or practical system, examine the desired result, find a more efficient method, and then use it.
Push yourself beyond arbitrary limits. Don't take a break until you have made genuine progress. If you have a few spare minutes, take care of routine tasks so that they will not hinder your concentration later in the day.
Break an unpleasant job into achievable chunks, and set a deadline for each part. If necessary, arrange your schedule so that you have built-in pressure. When you have limited time, you can often find a way to get work done.
Sometimes you must take time to address personal issues in order to clarify your thoughts and be more productive in the long run. Determine when you need to settle personal concerns and when those concerns can wait until after work.
Whatever challenges you face, do not wait for an inspiration or bang your head against an "impossible" obstacle. Step back, develop a plan, and take the steps to overcome the obstacle.
Making Mentors
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National Honor Students in Archbold, Ohio, are tackling more than books this year. They are joining the local effort to build good character.
On August 14, twenty high school students received Character First! training to prepare them for this year's mentoring program.
"Our National Honor Students visit the Archbold Elementary School once every two months to help teach a character lesson," explained a supervising teacher. "The younger children really respond to the teenagers."
The Archbold Elementary School emphasizes one character quality each month. Selected high school students mentor the children by leading large group assemblies, speaking to students in classrooms, and playing at recess.
The Character Council of Northwest Ohio sponsored the seminar for this year's honor students. For several years, the Character Council has sponsored a variety of character-related events in Archbold and the surrounding area.
When asked why character is more important than wealth or fame, one honor student said, "Because character is immaterial. It can't be taken away from you. You can lose your house and lose your job, but character is who you are."
By Robert Greenlaw
International Building Cities of Character Conference
Learn how to transform your community through positive character development at the September 20-22, International Building Cities of Character Conference. It's not too late to register!
For more information, visit http://www.charactercities.org/bcoc/.
